Meet Murlikant Petkar: The athlete who inspired Kartik Aaryan and Sushant Singh Rajput (2024)

Films on athletes or landmark sporting events, if made well, create unforgettable experiences for the audience as they experience the emotions of triumph, defeat, and perseverance. 'Chandu Champion', the upcoming sports drama by Kabir Khan, the director who gave films like 'Ek Tha Tiger', 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', and '83', looks forward to instilling the same emotions in the audience on June 14.

Led by Karthik Aaryan, 'Chandu Champion' is among the most-awaited films of the year. Aaryan essays the role of Paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar, and from the trailer, the actor seems to have cracked the character to the T.

Before you book your tickets for the film, here's looking at the life journey of the man who grew from battling in the Indian army to becoming a Paralympic champion. His remarkable resilience and athletic ability serve as a true inspiration.

Murlikant Petkar was a born athlete

Born on November 1, 1944, in the Peth Islampur region of Sangli, Maharashtra, Petkar was interested in different sports since childhood but aced particularly in hockey and wrestling. On his website, the athlete has shared the amusing story behind him joining the army. He says that he ran off to Pune and joined the Boys Battalion of the Indian Army to avoid "getting killed" by people in his village as he defeated the village head’s son in wrestling.

After joining the army, Petkar continued to excel at sports. He was a jawan in the rank of craftsman in the Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) Corps of the Indian Army and represented the Indian Army at the International Services Sports Meet in Tokyo in 1964. With a natural talent for boxing, he ascended through the ranks, ultimately clinching the national title in 1965.

The EME Corps oversees the upkeep and support of the extensive range of equipment in the Indian Army's inventory.

Murlikant Petkar suffered from nine bullet wounds

However, his life took a drastic turn in 1965. During the Indo-Pak war, Petkar was hit by nine bullets - one of which is still lodged in his backbone - which paralysed him from knee down. He was in a coma for almost a year and bedridden for two years.

Recalling the unfateful day, Petkar told IANS, "All I remember now is that we were just resting after having our lunch. Suddenly, the Havildar Major came shouting. Some of us, half asleep as we were, thought we were being called for tea. I remember there was some confusion and some jawans just went outside and were killed."

The athlete told The Indian Express, “One bullet still remains lodged in my spine as a reminder. I spent 16 months in various hospitals, fighting a battle for my recovery. The doctors suggested I take up swimming to help my recovery. It soon became my passion."

Murlikant Petkar's second innings

Despite the grave injury, Petkar didn't lose hope. He started swimming to regain strength and recover from his injuries.

In the 1968 Paralympics, he competed in table tennis and swimming. Then, four years later, at the 1972 Paralympics, Petkar made history as the first Indian to secure a gold medal at any level of the Olympics. His world record time of 37.33 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle, though the category is no longer recognised, remains unbeaten.

His medal tally includes 12 golds in international events, 34 golds in national competitions and 40 golds at the state-level contests.

Sushant Singh Rajput wanted to make a film on Murlikant Petkar

Before Kabir Khan and Kartik Aaryan, actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who died in June 2020, was keen on bringing the life of Petkar to celluloid. He even visited the Paralympic gold medallist and his family at his home in Mumbai when he was working on MS Dhoni: The Untold Story.

Arjun Petkar, Murlikant Petkar's son, told The Indian Express that Sushant was floored by his father's achievements and wanted to play him on-screen in his biopic.

“When he heard that my father was in a coma for one-and-a-half years after he suffered bullet injuries to the chest, spine and leg, Sushant said he was amazed by the courage, patience and patriotism displayed by my father," Arjun said.

However, Sushant's wish to play Petkar went unrealised.

Murlikant Petkar was never awarded Arjuna Award or Khel Ratna

Despite winning many medals and putting the country on the global map, Petkar was not recognised by the Government of India until 2018, when he was honoured with Padma Shree.

“I broke the world record, but I did not beg for an Arjuna Award,” Petkar told Scroll in 2017.

In 1982, when his application for the Arjuna Award was rejected by the government, he decided never to apply for any award. "I made a bundle of all my certificates and medals and stashed them away, resolving never to make any application for any award again," Petkar told IANS.

Kabir Khan has likely touched upon Petkar's disappointment with the government as the trailer shows an aged Kartik Aaryan laying out his medals and demanding to file a case against the President of India.